This picture released on April 26, 2026 shows an aerial view of the site of the ‘Missing Link’ project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway ahead of its launch on Maharashtra Day, celebrated on May 1 in Mumbai. Photo: @mieknathshinde/X via PTI
The Mumbai-Pune Missing Link project is scheduled to open to the public from Friday (May 1, 2026), on the occasion of Maharashtra Day. It is a 19.84 kilometer long stretch between Khopoli exit and Kusgaon which addresses historical congestion and hazard issues on the existing route and bypasses the dangerous Borghat stretch to ease traffic. No additional toll fees will be charged. But what is the hype around reducing the distance by six kilometers on India’s first expressway? What is the significance of reducing travel time by 20-30 minutes on a normal day? Hind explains.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which is India’s first controlled-access toll expressway, became fully operational in 2002. Since then, the Western Ghats section has been one of the most challenging sections as the road narrows in the Borghat area, where sharp turns and steep climbs make navigation difficult. ₹1 crore worth of fuel is wasted daily in this area. The average delay on normal days is around 30 minutes. It lasts up to two hours on weekends, peak hours, and holidays.
Published – May 1, 2026 06:49 IST
